Light of the Last

by Chuck Black

  “Thanks, Ben. Maybe you’re right. Some precautions might be warranted.” He looked over Alice’s report again. Just how far would the president and Director Ward go? Ben was right, he’d better be careful.

  At 5:00 a.m. Drew and Ben sent the tech team home. “I think they deserve the next couple of days off,” Drew said.

  Ben agreed. “By the way, I got that list of names that you asked for before Ward shut us out of their network.”

  “Perfect.” Drew grabbed the USB out of Ben’s hand. “Go get some sleep, Ben. I’ll meet you back here at ten.”

  —

  Drew could hardly stand upright any longer. The last forty-eight hours had been grueling.

  When he got back to his hotel room and finally laid down, he couldn’t even remember shutting his eyes. When Alice woke him up at 9:30, it felt as though he had just blinked, and the sun was streaking through a slit in the curtain.

  He struggled out of the pillow-topped bed. After slowly swinging his feet to the floor, he reached for the remote. He clicked on the television to discover three major networks running minute-by-minute stories on the thwarted bioterrorist attacks in California, Colorado, Louisiana, and New York. Drew cycled through the channels until he found Sophia Bryant with World Media News reporting that a press release by the president was scheduled for 2:00 p.m. A short news conference would follow. She would cover the conference live for WMN.

  Before Drew jumped into the shower, he put on the LASOK glasses and inspected himself once more. Still clear. He was anxious for the Fortress men who had been contaminated, especially those with open wounds and damaged protective clothing.

  “Lord Jesus, please protect those men who risked their lives to save many. Amen.” The prayer was short, but he loved what it felt like to turn a situation that he couldn’t control over to a God who could.

  Drew hurried through his shower and stepped onto the floor mat just as Alice informed him of an incoming call. He wrapped a towel around himself.

  “Answer the call, Alice,” Drew said.

  “It’s Sydney Carlyle,” Alice replied. “Would you like video?”

  “Of course not!” Drew said, perturbed. “Wait…Alice, did you just make a joke?”

  “Joke about what?” Sydney’s voice came through on speakerphone as Drew scrambled for his clothes.

  “Nothing. I was talking to Alice. You can’t see me, can you?” Drew asked.

  Sydney laughed. “No, why? Should I be able to? Are you all right?”

  “I’m good…I’m good,” Drew said as he stumbled trying to get his right foot into his jeans and nearly fell on his face.

  “Are you sure? ’Cause you sound a little flustered.”

  “I’m good. What do you need, Syd?”

  “I’m just getting ready to head to the airport, and I thought I’d see how you were doing.” Her voice softened. “I can’t wait to see you again.”

  Drew finished throwing on his shirt, then sat down on the bed. “I’m looking forward to seeing you too,” he replied. “How about you and me take a vacation when you get here?”

  She sighed. “That would be really nice. You set it up, and I’ll be there. Just make sure there’s a beach involved.”

  “You got, it,” Drew said. “Alice sent you the flight information, didn’t she?”

  “Yeah, I’ve got it.”

  “It’s a Citation X, so your flight won’t be too long.”

  “I’ll see you in a few hours?” Sydney replied.

  “Can’t wait, Sydney.” He wanted to say more, but that would have to do for now.

  —

  Drew made it back to NexTech by 10:05. Ben was already busy working on a dozen tasks at once.

  “Did you sleep?” Drew asked as the coffee machine purred to life.

  “We collected a lot of data, so I thought I’d better make a second backup. Alice is nearly done,” Ben said, his fingers feverishly working the keys on one of the computers.

  Drew shook his head. “You’re going to burn out, Ben. Alice, display the live broadcast of World Media News.” He tapped Ben’s shoulder. “Take a look at this.”

  “We have confirmed reports that the CDC has established mobile containment facilities at four locations throughout the US.” Tom Vincent was at the top of his game, working his correspondent magic—assimilating news bits, interviewing eyewitnesses, and managing the heartbeat of the World Media News command center. “We also have information indicating that these four facilities, all located next to major metropolitan cities, were part of a concerted bioterrorist plot. As of yet, no terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for the attempted attack. Sophia Bryant is live at the White House as we await the presidential statement and news conference. Sophia, what have you learned there?”

  “Well, Tom, the White House is remaining silent until the conference. But sources have told me that this is indeed a major bioterrorist attack on the United States with the intent of infecting millions of Americans with a deadly virus on the anniversary of 9/11. We also have reports that this terrorist attack could be linked to the unconfirmed reports of an assassination attempt on President Harden just two days earlier at Camp David. Everyone here is anticipating information released by the White House on both incidents.”

  She’s smooth, Drew thought. He knew she was using some of the information he had leaked to her, but she was also playing it safe so as not to cause the news network any embarrassment should the information turn out not to be accurate or true at all.

  “Tom, whether speculation or fact, the term Ebola has been used numerous times. Whatever happened on those remote farms, the people have a right to know and a right to be concerned. Let’s hope the president will give us some answers and some assurance that the threat has been completely eliminated.”

  “Thanks, Sophia Bryant.” The scene cut back to Tom Vincent. “Here is some video our team captured at one of the locations just after the Special Forces team was taken into quarantine.”

  “Alice, stop broadcast,” Drew said.

  Ben looked up at Drew from his chair. In spite of the success of the mission, there was no joy in his eyes. Ben was always serious, but Drew could tell there was something deeply wrong.

  “I watched the rest of the video Alice took while you were with the president.” Ben slowly shook his head. “You agreed to work with two men who are that corrupt? You trusted them?”

  Drew set down his coffee cup. “I didn’t have a choice, Ben. Millions of people were going to die.”

  Ben’s gaze went to the far wall and some distant thought he was having. Without looking at Drew, he asked the question Drew knew he was thinking. “These are powerful people, Drew. In that super strategic mind of yours, is there any scenario where we survive this?” He turned his eyes back to Drew.

  Drew shrugged. “Hey, we saved the United States of America, didn’t we? That’s got to be worth something.” He flashed a sheepish grin, but Ben didn’t respond. “Ben, I’m sorry. Maybe God put you and me on this earth for this very purpose—to save millions of lives. No one may ever know, but—”

  “God?” Ben asked. “You really have bought into this religious stuff. It’s not just for Sydney, is it?”

  “No, it’s not. We have been invaded, Ben, but not by aliens. When you’re ready to hear it, I’ll explain it all.” Drew’s phone signaled a received text. He glanced at it. “But right now we need to check on the LASOK. That machine could be our ticket out of this mess.”

  Ben nodded.

  When they got to the machine, Drew noticed that a box of LASOK glasses were ready. “These Ebola-tuned?”

  “Yep. We need to get them to the CDC ASAP.”

  “Good. This is going to revolutionize disease control,” Drew said.

  “You have a phone call,” Alice’s calm voice said in Drew’s earpiece. “The number is unlisted. Do you want to take it?”

  “Yes, Alice.” Drew heard the line connect. “Hello?”

  “Drew, this is
Director Ward. How are you doing?”

  Drew looked at Ben and raised an eyebrow. “I’m well, Director Ward. What can I do for you?”

  “I just wanted to congratulate you again on a successful mission. Once the president is finished with his press conference today, he will be personally calling you to congratulate you on behalf of the nation. You and your team did well, Agent Carter, with the exception of that little media stunt you pulled.”

  “This call is being traced,” Alice said. “Do you want me to terminate the connection?”

  Drew hesitated then tapped “no” on his sleeve. He wanted to know what Ward had in mind.

  “Thank you, sir. It was an honor for all of us to serve our country. Tell me something, Director, how much will you tell the American people?”

  There was a couple of seconds of silence. Drew heard a faint whisper in the background. “Another sixty seconds.”

  “Well, Carter, you need to understand that the people often don’t know what’s best for the people. That’s why men like President Harden become leaders—to make decisions and take action that is in the best interest for the masses. The less they know, the better off they are. Your little media stunt at the terrorist sites is going to take some time to fix.”

  Drew could feel his anger rising up again. “Your definition and my definition of ‘fix’ are vastly different, Director.”

  Drew’s sensitive ears could hear the words “Got him!” in the background. Drew knew he should hang up, but he figured he had at least fifteen minutes before he had to disappear. It felt as if Ward was about to show his hand, so he waited one more minute.

  “I imagine you’re right, Carter. It’s men like me who have the guts to clean up messes that others make. That’s how I fix problems.”

  “And who cleans up your messes, Director? And the president’s? The mess of political corruption that authorizes terrorist attacks on our own people?”

  There was a moment of silence again. Drew faintly heard some chatter in the background but couldn’t make it out. Then his heart nearly stopped as he picked up one final phrase—“Impact in thirty seconds.”

  “Good-bye, Carter. You and your team have served its purpose. Now for the good of the country, it’s time you all disappear.” Director Ward’s voice was filled with smug contempt, and they were the last words Drew heard.

  “Run, Ben!” Drew shouted just before the connection was lost.

  His last thought before the concussion hit was of Sydney. Would she be targeted too?

  —

  The AIM-9 missile struck the left engine of the Cessna Citation X at nearly the same time that two top-secret hypersonic scramjet missiles impacted NexTech, traveling at Mach 5.2, faster than radar could track or the naked eye could see. The kinetic energy transfer combined with the moderately sized warheads completely obliterated the entire building in just seconds. The blast shattered windows for four city blocks, killing dozens of innocent passersby.

  Within minutes, the entire city of New York was in a state of emergency, with police, ambulance, and firefighters rushing to the scene. News agencies around the world were declaring that America was under another 9/11-scale terrorist attack, attempting this time to wipe out the president and a major US city, and strike fear into the hearts of the common citizens through bioterrorism.

  In the CDC quarantine quarters near San Francisco, Denver, Shreveport, and New York City, hundreds of FBI agents converged on the disarmed Fortress soldiers. Jake was the first to see the muzzles of the MP5s.

  31

  THE FACE OF CONSPIRACY

  “What’s going on, Reed?” Jake asked as he eyed the two dozen FBI Special Weapons and Tactics Team agents, all carrying MP5s.

  When the CDC had arrived at the zero point, Jake’s men had been disarmed and stripped for quarantine. Now the FBI had shown up in force. There was nothing they could do. No one had said a word to them since the assaults on the terrorist locations nearly twelve hours ago. Jake figured they would all be dead by now if they were to be executed, so he advised his men to cooperate.

  Agent Reed was the first person Jake recognized, and he began to wonder if the corruption Drew had alluded to had reached this man too. He tried to read the agent’s face as he looked through the visor of his HAZMAT mask.

  “We’re here to protect you,” Reed said. “Carter figured some heavy stuff was going to go down when this was through and knew that you would be vulnerable until you and your men made it out of quarantine. We took the risk and trusted our former assistant director at the FBI.”

  Jake relaxed. “What about Drew and the rest of the team?”

  Reed hesitated, which made Jake anxious, then shook his head. “I’m not sure. I just received word that NexTech was bombed. I don’t know, Jake. Drew and Ben were trying to get more LASOK glasses to the CDC. I haven’t heard from them.”

  Jake’s eyes filled with fiery wrath. “Somebody has to take them down!”

  —

  At 2:01 p.m., President Harden entered the White House press-briefing room to flashing cameras and journalists anxious for updates and an opportunity to ask questions. All forty-nine assigned seats were filled, and another fifty reporters and cameramen stood in the aisles along the sides of the room and at the back. The air was thick with solemn and heavy hearts.

  President Harden took a moment to gather himself at the lectern, then gazed across the room with presidential resolve. “Fellow Americans, the United States has been fighting a war on terror for nearly two decades. It began on that fateful morning on September 11, 2001, when terrorists hijacked four airplanes in a coordinated attack against our nation’s economic, political, and military institutions. Since that day, we have been successful in taking the fight to the terrorists, to their camps, and to their host countries. We have hunted down those responsible and brought them to justice. But today that war has returned to our soil. And though precious lives have been lost, we have prevailed, and we will continue to prevail.”

  Harden paused. “Two days ago at Camp David, a terrorist attack on my life was thwarted by our Secret Service agents and the Marine Presidential Guard. Last night, this same terrorist group attempted a bioterrorist attack against four US cities. Once again our Special Forces, in conjunction with the FBI, thwarted the attack, and it has been contained. This morning, however, terrorists were successful in blowing up a New York tech company in an effort to strike fear into the heart of Americans. We were able to evacuate most of the people from the building before the bombs went off, but in every one of these cowardly attacks, courageous Americans lost their lives, Americans to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude.”

  Harden looked straight into the camera and hesitated. The dramatic pause was powerful. “Let the world know that we will not be conquered. We will rise, and we will overcome! We will not stop until our nation is free from the threat of terrorism!”

  The moment lingered and then the president took a deep breath.

  “I’ll take a few questions.”

  The room exploded in shouting and hand raising.

  “Yes, Susan.” The president pointed to a journalist in the front row.

  “Mr. President, has any terrorist group claimed responsibility for all three attacks?”

  “Not yet, but our intelligence agencies are zeroing in on those groups responsible, and we will soon be taking both military and clandestine action to bring them to justice.” The president moved on. “Yes, Bob.”

  “Was the assassination attempt on your life the reason the security of Camp David was not transferred to the UN as planned, and are the IGA and Premier Jabbar involved in any way?”

  “As for your first question, yes, I decided the timing of the transfer should not be clouded by such terrorist activity, and we are revisiting if and when that transfer of security should happen in the future. Regarding your second question, I would prefer not to answer that until we have completed a full investigation into the attempted terrorist attacks. Next question…Kent.
”

  “What type of virus were the terrorists planning to release on our cities, and how do you know the virus has been contained?”

  President Harden thought for a moment. “The virus was Ebola, the same strain from the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo six months ago, but it has been contained. The CDC is in possession of new technology that allows quicker and easier isolation of the virus. We believe the terrorists chose to attack NexTech Corporation in New York City because they were involved in developing this new technology.” President Harden scanned the room. “I have time for one more question. Sophia Bryant.”

  There was an unusual pause. Bryant looked around the room, then back at the president. She stood up. “Mr. President, can you tell us why you authorized five previous terrorist attacks on US cities and justified it in the name of global unity?”

  The room fell deathly silent as the president glared at Miss Bryant.

  “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about, Miss Bryant, and please show a little respect for the office of the president of the United States.”

  Harden turned, but Bryant shouted back. “Then why do I have video showing you and Director Ward confessing to orchestrating those attacks?”

  Harden froze, then turned an icy glare at Bryant. White House aides started moving toward her.

  “Tell us the truth, Mr. President. Operation Torrent revealed that you and Premier Jabbar of the IGA coordinated with our own intelligence agencies to plan those attacks in addition to ordering the murder of the agents who discovered the truth.”

  Harden sneered, then quickly exited.

  “Which of these recent attacks have been orchestrated by your administration?” Bryant shouted after him.

  The pressroom erupted in mayhem as Bryant moved with the rest of the news crews to escape the grip of Harden’s men, but she was detained.

  Moments after the dramatic close to the press conference, America watched as World Media News began playing the video of President Harden and Director Ward’s conversation with Dougherty on all of its media channels. At its conclusion, Tom Vincent mesmerized millions of viewers with a promise of details regarding Sophia’s dramatic announcement to the world of President Harden’s corruption.